Decorated Notebooks

I started making these notebooks last summer for my team at work (each grade level of teachers is called a "team", there are 8 of us on my team just with the 3rd grade teachers, not including the specialists).  I am sad to say that I never finished the notebooks.  BUT, today I saw them sitting there and decided I would finish them.  I plan to make them individual for each member.  The first two were already done, but happen to fit two of the "new" members joining our team.

I used a lot of retired products making this and will likely continue as I try to use up paper and ribbons that are no longer with us!  The stamp "Imagine the Possibilities" is going to be the consistent theme through the 8 notebooks I am making.  When I was making these I literally covered a composition book from Target.  I attached the ribbon using sticky strip to make sure it was secure.  Going forward I won't "pop" anything up since the plan is to use them all year.

I also make a matching pen to go with the notebook, I am still trying to decide if I will make a "pen holder" off the side of the notebook.  I think I probably will since as teachers we never seen to have a pen when we need it.  My thought is that we can take these to the meetings during the "welcome back" week and then use them during the year at our weekly meetings!  I have big plans to make something matching to go with them, but we shall see if that actually happens!  :)

ColourQ Challenge #138

I wanted to do this challenge mostly because I love the heel that is used as inspiration!  Isn't it gorgeous?

When I was making this card I immediately thought of the flowers from the new stamp set from the upcoming Stampin' Up! 2012-13 catalog!  It's called Betsy's Blossoms and it's one of my new favorites!  There are going to be some AWESOME new things in the catalog!   If you'd like your own copy of the catalog, please email me!  :)

HSS #117 - Wedding Challenge

I wanted to create a card for this challenge because I never make wedding cards.  Most of my friends have been married for awhile, what I am always needing is baby cards.  LOL So this was really a challenge for me since I never have to make Wedding cards.  As soon as I saw the challenge I knew I wanted to create a card with Very Vanilla and Wisteria Wonder.

Don't the butterflies just pop off the card?  I love how they are a symbol of the "two" people for a wedding!  I love the Elegant lines of the embossing folder as well.  All of my supplies are Stampin' Up! except the colored rhinestones.  

New Catalog Kick-off card...

This is one of the cards we will be making at my Catalog Kick-off Class.  I LOVE the Mixed Bunch set and it works wonderfully with Basic Black and the new 2012-2014 In-color Primrose Petals.  

The original idea came from Mary Fish's blog - I love how basic it is, but the colors really pop, don't they?  We will be making this on June 1st from 4-7pm along with 4-5 other cards that all feature sets in the 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Catalog.  The cost is $20 or FREE with any $50 purchase that night.  There will be lots of new products to try out, drawings and even a bargain table.  RSVP now so you don't miss out!  :)

Supplies: 

Primrose Petals, Basic Black and Whisper White card stock

Primrose Petals and Basic Black classic ink

Mixed Bunch and Loving Thoughts stamp sets

3/4", 1" and Blossom Punches

Rhinestones

Check back tomorrow for another card that we will be making on June 1st! 

May Blog Hop

You have likely joined my blog from Annie's awesome page!  Isn't she so creative?  This Blog Hop was quite easy for me since I knew all along I wanted to create two things for my mom!  Simply put, I owe my mom a lot, not just for giving me life, for always supporting me, etc... but also because when she was pregnant with me, I was SIX weeks LATE.  Yes, you read that correctly.  So, I kind of owe EVERYTHING to my mom.  :)

My mom and I on Christmas 2011.

The first project was inspired by my intern at work, she gave me one of these little post-it holders as a thank you gift and I just LOVED it so much I had to share it with you!

Mother's Day Post it Note Pad

As you can see from the picture below, it is made from one of those cheap plastic picture frames (I got mine for $2 at Michaels).  You cut the DSP or card stock, embellish, add some ribbon and a post it note pad and viola, a wonderful little gift!  Who wouldn't love this?

Mother's Day Card

I wanted to make my mom a matching card because she just loves purple and quite honestly, this DSP is retiring at the end of the month and I wanted to use it up!  :)  This flower was featured in the Stampin' Success magazine in May (an exclusive Stampin' Up! Demonstrator magazine).  I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.  My mom loves flowers as well so I knew she'd love this!  

I know the "Mom" is a bit "off" but that is the BEST part of card making, nothing has to be perfect.  My mom won't notice and I really had no desire to start over!

The flower is made using the Blossom Petals Punch.  I used 18 large flower petals and 9 small.  I "curved" them around a pencil to give them a more petal look.  I adhered them to a 1 3/8" circle base.  HINT: I had to "hold" each petal in place for about 30 seconds to allow them to dry quickly before I moved onto adding another.  This was especially important in doing the second and third layers! 

Supplies:

Flirtatious DSP
Naturals White, Concord Crush (retiring) and Wisteria Wonder Card Stock
Concord Crush (retiring) and Wisteria Wonder Classic Ink
Early Expresso Button (Neutrals Collection)
Large Pearls
Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon
Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (retiring)
Blossom Petals Builder Punch
Lilac Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads (retiring)
Messages for Mom (retiring) and Lovely Letters stamps

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Shellie G. of Creative Electica
2. Annie L. of Love Me Cards
3. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
4. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps a Lot
5. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
6. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
7. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
8. Patricia T. of Sunnyone Stampin'
9. Heather W. of Heather's Stampin' Blog
10. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
11. Marla R. of Marla's Stampin' Spot
12. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
13. Nicole B. of Creations by Mommy
14. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim

Blog Hop Sneeks

Blog Hop Sneek Peak!!!!

Tomorrow is our May Blog Hop!  Come back to check out all of the exciting projects and cards that we have created for you!

See you at the Hop!!!!!

Mother's Day Seed Packets

I am making these adorable little seed packets for Mother's Day.  I first got the idea from Mary Fish's website, but I started with her idea and made them into my own.  Each packet contains a packet of seeds (flowers, veggies or watermelon).  I plan to give these packets to the ladies who are mom's at my work and also sending them to ladies who were like "moms" to me growing up (including my own wonderful mom!).  Aren't they just so cute?  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think... 

 Sweet One 

What makes this seed packet so special is that the slice of watermelon on the front is scented like watermelon!  After I took the picture I also added "Happy Mother's Day" to the top (as pictured above).

Homegrown

This packet is very close to the one on Mary's website except I wanted a splash of color.  I really love the embossing folder look! 

 

Beautiful Friend

I made this one specifically for my "aunt".  She really isn't my aunt (although she has been friends with my mom for almost 60 years), but as an adult I still consider her "Aunt" but even moreso, a friend.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Mouthwatering, Homegrown, Flower Fest and Fabulous Phrases

Inks: Melon Mambo & Wild Wasabi (#1)

Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant & Crumb Cake (#2)

Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight & Old Olive (#3)

Card Stock: Naturals White, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi & Basic Black (#1)

Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Ivory (#2)

Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink & Naturals White (#3)

***Email me with specific questions about further supplies.***